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Education

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Original poster

It may be the hormones (I'm V pregnant) but there is something so vulnerable about the remains of my Ds' packed lunches.

23 replies

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:18

I was emptying out their lunchboxes earlier and it struck me how little I know about their lives between 9am-3.30pm.

DS1 (nearly nine, in November), true to form, had eaten his cheese sandwiches, cereal bar and yoghurt and had even put his empty yoghurt pot and spoon back in the plastic bag it went in.

DS2 (6) had eaten his sandwiches, apart from the crusts (my mother does not approve of this, BTW, War Baby, and all that) had a vague go at the cereal bar and left the yoghurt untouched.

Their empty lunchbags provide a snapshot of their day and it seems so strange to not really know how their day has been. Most questions are met with a "yes" or an "it was OK" response, even though I make a point of trying not asking 'closed questions.'

Does anyone else feel teary when clearing out gunky lunchboxes? Or is it just me?

OP posts:

singyswife · 13/09/2006 20:21

hi, my dd has only been at school for 3 weeks and I feel like this. When she goes into school in the morning it is like, omg I wont know what she is doing until 3.30pm. When she gets home and I empty her lunch box I get quite sad at the thought of her having eaten it in a strange place with strange people. It makes me all sad and emotional, I thought it was just because it is my first baby to be at school though.

HuwEdwards · 13/09/2006 20:26

ah bubble, you bit soft mush of hormones

actually yes, kids I am sure I have never set eyes upon, stop and chat to my DDs on our high street. They have their own little worlds about which I know very little it would seem - but that is how it's supposed to be - the first tentative steps of independence.

Original poster

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:33

I can picture their little faces when after what may have been a difficult morning, they sit down and open the bags that I have lovingly prepared.

Actually, that last bit should read....

'Open the bags that I have grumpily put together at 6am.'

OP posts:

Milge · 13/09/2006 20:36

I think it might be hormonal, but as its you, we'll let you off!
But, think about all the mums who send their little ones to your nursery, you know what they are doing,what they are eating for lunch etc..

MegaLegs · 13/09/2006 20:37

This is wierd bubble99 - I was thinking the same last night whilst making today's lunches. My two eldest are 6 and 5. I was thinking how they almost have a whole different life away from us. I remember school days at their age and there was so much going on in my little head. New school years and birthdays always get me, they are growing up too quick! (Sorry - have set myself off now and am noy even pg!)

Original poster

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:42

I know, Milge. It's also the fact that when pre-schoolers leave nursery (at a ratio of 1:8) they are suddenly thrown into ratios of 1:30+) once they get to school.

"Woops" as Ben Elton might have said (before he sold-out) - " Bit political, there."

OP posts:

Original poster

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:43

MegaLegs. I shall make you an 'Honourable Member' of The Preg-Head Club.

OP posts:

moondog · 13/09/2006 20:45

Sweet.
As a salt,I get loads of parents asking what their children do in school.
Sometimes I video them there if we are working on something in particular.

They are always over the moon to get a chance to sneak a peek at what goes on in the classroom,and a lot get teary.

Didn't get it before I had kids,but now I do.

hunkermunker · 13/09/2006 20:49

Bloody hellfire, my DSs not even AT school and this sort of thing gets to me... Please promise me you'll all be around to help wring me out when DS1 does start school... [soppy]

Blandmum · 13/09/2006 20:52

Don't worry bubble, I got all full up with tears on the first day year 7 came into the school. they all looked so little and scared. And they are not even my kids! And I'm not teaching year 7 this year!

mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/09/2006 20:52

Ah so sweet.
Makes me think of my school days, all I had in my lunch box was sandwiches, nothing else as my parents couldn't afford it. Just a broken tupperware container filled with peanut butter sarnies and a thermos flask with squash in!

MegaLegs · 13/09/2006 20:53

We are a bunch of hopeless cases!

Original poster

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:54

I'm wondering if this may be one of the main advantages of home-ed?

My boys are still at primary/junior school. The thing is, our local secondary schools are OK. I went to a 70's comp and did very well from the experience. I worry less about their days now as, how much can 'damage' them at 6 & 8? I have an an urge to cotton-wool them, which I s'pose is normal and which is why I'm (already) worrying about secondary school.

I just can't stop looking at my growing sons in the same way as I looked at them as newborns. My problem, I know....

OP posts:

MamaG · 13/09/2006 20:54

I'm another one

SpaceCadet · 13/09/2006 20:55

thats why ive always helped out at the school, gives me an interesting insight into their day.

Kelly1978 · 13/09/2006 20:57

I hate standing outside the school at pick up time, not beign allowed in and knowign that they have been doing allt hese thigns that I kow nothing about and I'm not involved in. Found it espec hard when they first started.

Original poster

bubble99 · 13/09/2006 20:57

Hinker. I'll be there

OP posts:

SpaceCadet · 13/09/2006 20:59

ah the first day at school, that takes me back, 11 years ago dd started school, rushed off without so much as a backward glance, left me sobbing in the playground.
when ds started, i was up there the next week as a midday supervisor cutting ds's dinner up for him!

moondog · 13/09/2006 23:14

Mum for 1st,your broken tupperware box description is too poignant for words.
Bless you!

KBear · 13/09/2006 23:22

My DS takes his first packed lunch on Friday (together with cleverly concealed webcam so I can watch his every move!).

"What did you do today at school?"

"Nuffin"

"What did you learn, anything good?"

"Mum, I didn't learn anything, we just played"

handlemecarefully · 14/09/2006 00:12

I don't feel sad at emptying dd's lunch box (week 2 of Year R),...but it does annoy the shit out of me that I can't get an intelligible answer when I ask her what she was doing at school today.

MamaG · 14/09/2006 12:01

LOL at KBear's webcam - I'd love to do that

joelallie · 14/09/2006 12:24

I know what you mean. I can remember feeling very lonely at one of my schools sometimes (snobby little girls' private school that I went to at 9yrs) and I used to hold my gloves in my hand in the playground knowing that my mum had put them there and they were something of home .

I often worry about what goes on inside the school walls - TBH playtimes terrify me at the thought of my kids being on their own or sad. But DH tells me to get a grip as they seem to be fine. But when DS#1's very best mate left at the beginning of Yr 4 I wanted to cry for him having to start all over again with making a best friend .

I remember when DS#1 started in reception expecting the teacher to come and tell me all about his day like the CM would have done. Strangely she didn't

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